Shloka 41

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम् मेरुपर्वतवर्ष्माणं गौरतीक्ष्णाग्रदंष्ट्रिणम्

Transliteration

daśayojanavistīrṇaṃ śatayojanamāyatam meruparvatavarṣmāṇaṃ gauratīkṣṇāgradaṃṣṭriṇam

Translation

ಅದು ಹತ್ತು ಯೋಜನ ಅಗಲವೂ ನೂರು ಯೋಜನ ಉದ್ದವೂ ಹೊಂದಿತ್ತು; ಅದರ ದೇಹವು ಮೇರುಪರ್ವತದಂತೆ ಮಹತ್ತಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅದು ಗೌರವರ್ಣದಾಗಿದ್ದು ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣ ಅಗ್ರದಂಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿತ್ತು.

Word by Word

• daśa-yojana: ten yojanas

• vistīrṇam: expanded/broad

• śata-yojana: a hundred yojanas

• āyatam: long/extended

• meru-parvata: Mount Meru

• varṣmāṇam: body/physique/mass

• gaura: pale, fair, luminous

• tīkṣṇa: sharp

• agra: tip/point

• daṃṣṭriṇam: tusked/possessing tusks

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Meru

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

By stressing immeasurable, Meru-like vastness, the verse supports the Linga’s role as the ananta (limitless) sign of Pati—worship is directed to the boundless Shiva-tattva, not merely a finite form.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Through hyperbolic cosmic dimensions and awe-inspiring features, it points to Shiva as Pati—transcendent, immeasurable, and capable of assuming overwhelming manifestations that humble limited perception bound by pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse mainly functions as dhyāna-material: contemplate the Lord’s vastness (meru-sadṛśa mahattva) to loosen pāśa-bound identification and steady the pashu-mind in Shiva-oriented awareness, a Pāśupata-style inner orientation supporting Linga-pūjā.